Tips for surviving the holidays without sacrificing your weight-loss goals
No one wants to be a killjoy at a Christmas party or a family get-together. But when it comes to dealing with the temptations of the season’s high-calorie bounty, you don’t have to be a Grinch.
You do need a plan, says Susan J. Bartlett, Ph.D., an associate director of clinical psychology at Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center in Baltimore and a specialist in weight and eating disorders. Last year, she led a small group at the center through the following eat-right strategies. Her expertise and her students’ experiences provide practical lessons for anyone to try.
SOME TIPS
- Weight specialist Susan Bartlett suggests the following ways to keep your caloric count in check at a big event:
- Don’t arrive hungry; eat something before you go.
- Pass up peanuts, pretzels, chips, and other everyday snacks. Spend your calories on the special treats you really want.
- Wear a form-fitting outfit, with a belt if possible.
- Make socializing, rather than food, the focus of the event.
- Keep your portions in check — to keep calories under control.
- Plan how much alcohol you’ll drink. It loosens your inhibitions and contributes to calorie consumption.
- Don’t stand near the buffet table. In fact, keep your back to it, so you won’t even see it!
- Make a deal with yourself that you will learn something new about someone you don’t know at the party.
- Wear a special piece of jewelry — a sparkly bangle or big ring — as a visible reminder to yourself to eat in moderation.
- Practice saying “no, thank you.” It’s okay to turn down invitations or tell a pushy host you don’t want seconds.
